When people condemn us, we have choices. We can refuse it outright or we can weigh it. If it is partly truth, we can repent and put it under the Blood. The rest we can forgive and move on. When Satan condemns us, we also have a choice. Usually he is bringing up something already under the Blood and we can stand on God's Word that it is not only forgiven but forgotten by God. Therefore what Satan is saying to you is a lie. The other choice we have when Satan accuses is to believe it. Walking in condemnation is not an easy path.
Our human nature differs and is unique and we call it personality. Some are easily condemned and others seem to shake it off easily. No one escapes it, however. Some are victims of verbal abuse and have shaped an image of themselves that is not a true picture. For some, it is a familial curse that sees and accepts a lower standard for their future. For some, it is an excuse to not try. By now, you are seeing that our human nature is often overcome by our adamic nature. Because we are born in sin, we follow our adamic nature. Jesus came in the likeness of man but not with adamic nature, therefore, in His obedience to God in all things and overcoming Satan at every oportunity, He was without sin. Jesus took the body of sin to the cross. Not only every sin that could be committed but our adamic nature as well. Before He said, "It is finished!", He also conquered and overcame our dust, or human nature. This gives us the right to move toward Resurrection Life. He overcame death, the ultimate separation from God. We have eternal Life in Him.
God is Love. You have heard and you have said it. Knowing that God is making us in His image, you know that our covenant response is to love. Jesus said that to love one another is His "new commandment." John 13:34 (NASB) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. He said we are to love as He loves us. That is without condition and with a pure response to God. In this way we see His face in each other and we know how much He loves.
The hardest person to love with a constant purity is yourself. You belittle your actions, your responses, and your abilities. You belittle your appearance and your image to others. You belittle the ability to love and to be loved. This is not of God and it belittles God to you. The greatest freedom you have is to know God loves you. You can rest in His care and faith for you. Remember, it is not about you but all about Him! He finished, completed, perfected all that is necessary for you to be in His image.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Being Led
Joseph did not have a choice of the path he would take once he was sold to the slavers. He was taken to Egypt. Was that the will of God? We can say "yes" because we have the knowledge that Joseph did not have. Did Joseph know this was God's path for him? I do not think so. Too many times I have been on a path that I did not choose but was there anyway. I turned to my relationship with the Lord and began to worship and talk to Him. I strengthened myself in the Lord. I believe that is what Joseph did. He could not revert to the rituals of worship for he could not make a sacrifice. He could only rely on his right to trust and commune with God. God is the I Am, never changing. The relationship we can have with God was available to the men of the Old Testament for God is the instigator of relationship with man. The blood of covenant has always been the reason we could have a relationship with God.
If you are confused concerning the path you are on, make it a Biblical path. Worship, trust, and obey His Word. Commit your way to Him and let God change the path or give you the witness of His Presence. The knowledge of His Will may or may not come immediately, for the lack of knowledge may be the testing for you. Trust is a difficult issue for our human nature. We have to learn to lean on Him. Joseph had only his dreams and the teaching of covenant from his father. It was enough for him to make a Biblical path for his feet.
A Biblical path is one that follows God's Word, the examples that others have given us, and a response in our own spirit of love, adoration and thankfulness. It is a path of integrity, honesty, purity toward God and others, and a sincere desire to please God in all things. Jesus said, "I am the Way." Follow Him.
If you are confused concerning the path you are on, make it a Biblical path. Worship, trust, and obey His Word. Commit your way to Him and let God change the path or give you the witness of His Presence. The knowledge of His Will may or may not come immediately, for the lack of knowledge may be the testing for you. Trust is a difficult issue for our human nature. We have to learn to lean on Him. Joseph had only his dreams and the teaching of covenant from his father. It was enough for him to make a Biblical path for his feet.
A Biblical path is one that follows God's Word, the examples that others have given us, and a response in our own spirit of love, adoration and thankfulness. It is a path of integrity, honesty, purity toward God and others, and a sincere desire to please God in all things. Jesus said, "I am the Way." Follow Him.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Know Who You Are
Did Joseph know about Jesus? Did he know about sons of God? Did he know about the Church that would become the Bride? No, but he knew he was under covenant with God. Jacob had told his sons what his grandfather and father had told him concerning Abraham's Covenant with God. His covenant response was to hold God in high esteem and know that he had a covenant Friend on Whom he could rely. The testing he endured with this knowledge gave him his covenant identity. He refused the identity Satan tried to give him. He refused the "victim" identity.
The question came to me this morning, 'do we know who we are?', and with that, I began to wonder how many know Jesus, know sonship, know that we are His Bride. That knowledge is our identity. It allows us to hold our head high even in the hardest testing. It will allow us to shine when the world despises us and belittles our "religion" as a crutch. Our own identity with Jesus is a light that shines in the darkness. We know who we are because we know Who He is!
I have had so many people tell me they do not know how to pray. I realize they do not have a relationship with God that causes prayer to be a way of life. I love to be with my husband, to talk to him and listen to him. We have a relationship. In that same way I love to talk to Jesus, chat with Him and listen to Him. We have a relationship. I talk to and listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him know how much I appreciate Him. I talk to the Father and love to listen to Him for I am His child. I am a Christian to the world, but I am a friend of God, and that covenant relationship is my identity.
The question came to me this morning, 'do we know who we are?', and with that, I began to wonder how many know Jesus, know sonship, know that we are His Bride. That knowledge is our identity. It allows us to hold our head high even in the hardest testing. It will allow us to shine when the world despises us and belittles our "religion" as a crutch. Our own identity with Jesus is a light that shines in the darkness. We know who we are because we know Who He is!
I have had so many people tell me they do not know how to pray. I realize they do not have a relationship with God that causes prayer to be a way of life. I love to be with my husband, to talk to him and listen to him. We have a relationship. In that same way I love to talk to Jesus, chat with Him and listen to Him. We have a relationship. I talk to and listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him know how much I appreciate Him. I talk to the Father and love to listen to Him for I am His child. I am a Christian to the world, but I am a friend of God, and that covenant relationship is my identity.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Understanding the Day
Joseph not only remembered the dreams God had given him but he remembered God in his circumstances. I have often wondered how someone so young without any family or priest or written word, without the law delineating the expectation of God or the promise of a prophet's word, could so accurately project the path of God. All of us are called to walk in His path. Jesus showed it to us, the Word expresses it and we have others who walk in His path to show us the way. Joseph had no one but his own awareness of God. That is enough.
Keeping God in your focus will reveal His ways to you. Allowing Him to teach you and guide you is enough. But when Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and took the gaining of knowledge into his own hand, we have been trying to tell God how we want it done and we seek the knowledge of this realm rather than turning to God. So God sends trouble and testing to help us seek Him. Even then, with the wrong focus, we seek some way out of the trouble on our own. I love the example of Joseph, for I realize from his example, God wants to lead me more than I want to be led.
Joseph lived in a crucial day. God was getting ready to move people and circumstances to achieve His purpose. God had told Abraham his descendants would be in Egypt and that He would bring them out. God was moving Joseph into the place He wanted him for His purpose to be fulfilled. We live in a similar day. Don't curse what is happening to you, interpret it in the Light of God's purpose. See God in all that happens to you and flow with Him, walking in His path.
Keeping God in your focus will reveal His ways to you. Allowing Him to teach you and guide you is enough. But when Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and took the gaining of knowledge into his own hand, we have been trying to tell God how we want it done and we seek the knowledge of this realm rather than turning to God. So God sends trouble and testing to help us seek Him. Even then, with the wrong focus, we seek some way out of the trouble on our own. I love the example of Joseph, for I realize from his example, God wants to lead me more than I want to be led.
Joseph lived in a crucial day. God was getting ready to move people and circumstances to achieve His purpose. God had told Abraham his descendants would be in Egypt and that He would bring them out. God was moving Joseph into the place He wanted him for His purpose to be fulfilled. We live in a similar day. Don't curse what is happening to you, interpret it in the Light of God's purpose. See God in all that happens to you and flow with Him, walking in His path.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Recognizing God
Last Sunday we visited another church. The minister was an immediate old friend. We recognized God in him. He made a statement I want to repeat to you. "When God speaks to you, respond immediately in the response He wants, and you enter His flow." It is wonderful to know God's Word, believe and walk as a Christian. But now and then, you recognize one who flows with God. How do we flow with God?
Responding as God wants is simply recognizing the moment as a covenant moment. He has given the responses He desires in the Scriptures. That is why you hide them in your heart, meditate on them, cherish the "Aha" moments the Spirit gives you as you read them and know what God requires of you. This prepares you for the moment God has prepared for you and your response will cause you to enter into the "flow of God." I'm going to give you some examples from men who so entered the flow of God, their entire lives become an example for us.
Joseph had ample opportunity to become bitter, vengeful, and a victim of unhappy circumstances. Instead, he took the opportunity of a long, hot and painful walk through the hot sands toward Egypt to remember his dreams and let God walk with him. Psalm 105:16-19 16And He called for a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. 17He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in irons; 19until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.
What does it mean "the word tested him"? The Word of the Lord became the test. Would Joseph believe that word or reject it and feed on his own feelings and opinions? That test comes to each of us nearly every day. God gives us an opportunity to respond to Him so we can enter into that special place where His Spirit teaches, guides and enriches us. But that moment can also result in an outburst of anger, hurt, and bitterness. The test is, what is your focus: God's Word to your heart or your own opinion. Let "reason" direct your reaction or let God's Word ordain your response and you will understand the word "test".
David had many covenant moments. One when he faced Goliath. All those around him were afraid of Goliath, but his focus was not on the giant but on God Who was greater and His people who were not trusting Him. Because His focus was on God, Goliath was no more to him than the lion or bear that God had helped him overcome. Keeping your focus on God will belittle any circumstance.
I understand why people begin to doubt prayer, but if I never saw anyone healed, I would still believe in healing for it is in God's covenanted word. Don't let the fiery trial throw you, keep His Word before you and trust. Everything is being shaken now but God has promised the kingdom you are receiving cannot be shaken.
Responding as God wants is simply recognizing the moment as a covenant moment. He has given the responses He desires in the Scriptures. That is why you hide them in your heart, meditate on them, cherish the "Aha" moments the Spirit gives you as you read them and know what God requires of you. This prepares you for the moment God has prepared for you and your response will cause you to enter into the "flow of God." I'm going to give you some examples from men who so entered the flow of God, their entire lives become an example for us.
Joseph had ample opportunity to become bitter, vengeful, and a victim of unhappy circumstances. Instead, he took the opportunity of a long, hot and painful walk through the hot sands toward Egypt to remember his dreams and let God walk with him. Psalm 105:16-19 16And He called for a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. 17He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in irons; 19until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.
What does it mean "the word tested him"? The Word of the Lord became the test. Would Joseph believe that word or reject it and feed on his own feelings and opinions? That test comes to each of us nearly every day. God gives us an opportunity to respond to Him so we can enter into that special place where His Spirit teaches, guides and enriches us. But that moment can also result in an outburst of anger, hurt, and bitterness. The test is, what is your focus: God's Word to your heart or your own opinion. Let "reason" direct your reaction or let God's Word ordain your response and you will understand the word "test".
David had many covenant moments. One when he faced Goliath. All those around him were afraid of Goliath, but his focus was not on the giant but on God Who was greater and His people who were not trusting Him. Because His focus was on God, Goliath was no more to him than the lion or bear that God had helped him overcome. Keeping your focus on God will belittle any circumstance.
I understand why people begin to doubt prayer, but if I never saw anyone healed, I would still believe in healing for it is in God's covenanted word. Don't let the fiery trial throw you, keep His Word before you and trust. Everything is being shaken now but God has promised the kingdom you are receiving cannot be shaken.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Eyes to See
I woke this morning with a Scripture going through my mind. I have always felt the frustration of Jesus in this verse, but this morning I heard something different. John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? I have said and have heard others say, "We need to see the Father." This morning I realized we need a clearer look at Jesus. I John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. The phrase "when He appears" should more accurately read, "if He be manifested". We need to see Jesus as He is and then we will be like Him.
It is more than seeing Jesus in the flesh, for, though the 12 men who walked with Him saw Him and His ministry, they did not perceive the Father. Their own limitations prevented them from seeing Him. It was not ignorance of the Scriptures that limited them, for, though they were "uneducated" in the Scriptures, they saw more clearly than the Sanhedrin who were "educated". It is not what we do not know that limits us, but what we do know. Paul found that being stripped of what he knew about the Scriptures opened the door to the Spirit's teaching.
Jesus was very clear that He was not the Father but the Father was in Him and He was in the Father. He said just as clearly that if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us..... It is not just the written Word but Jesus AS the Word that is to abide in us. The written word must be a part of us, but the way Jesus walked, the life He lived, the union with the Father's Will must be in us. He IS the manifestation of the Father in flesh. We must be the manifestation of Jesus in our life here in this realm. The world will never know me as a manifestation of Jesus in eternity. They can only know that manifestation if they see it now.
What is the key? One, our faith. "Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe." Second, our love. Two things Jesus emphasized were to believe on Him and to love Him. This is the price of truth. To believe Him in the face of all opposing views and to love Him enough to walk in His footsteps. We all want to do the miracles He did, but the greatest "work" Jesus did was to lay down His life for us. Do we love Him enough to lay down our life? Not just our mortal life, but our nature-life? Our prejudices, our opinions, our "knowledge" and experience? Our own judgment concerning ourselves? Paul said he would not judge himself. Satan is the accuser, and he accuses us to ourselves and to others. Do we listen to him or to the Word? Jesus had his ear tuned to the Father. He quoted Scripture to Satan when he accused Him. Jesus turned His Blood-bought Church over to His disciples, not because He saw them as they were but He saw them through the Faith of God.
I am going to give you (as I promised last time!) some types and shadows of men who were led by God to follow Him. In these we can see our own nature and the price we need to pay for Truth. I think Joseph is a wonderful example for us and in the next few blogs, I will endeavor to dig into his price and the Truth he found. The Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace.
It is more than seeing Jesus in the flesh, for, though the 12 men who walked with Him saw Him and His ministry, they did not perceive the Father. Their own limitations prevented them from seeing Him. It was not ignorance of the Scriptures that limited them, for, though they were "uneducated" in the Scriptures, they saw more clearly than the Sanhedrin who were "educated". It is not what we do not know that limits us, but what we do know. Paul found that being stripped of what he knew about the Scriptures opened the door to the Spirit's teaching.
Jesus was very clear that He was not the Father but the Father was in Him and He was in the Father. He said just as clearly that if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us..... It is not just the written Word but Jesus AS the Word that is to abide in us. The written word must be a part of us, but the way Jesus walked, the life He lived, the union with the Father's Will must be in us. He IS the manifestation of the Father in flesh. We must be the manifestation of Jesus in our life here in this realm. The world will never know me as a manifestation of Jesus in eternity. They can only know that manifestation if they see it now.
What is the key? One, our faith. "Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe." Second, our love. Two things Jesus emphasized were to believe on Him and to love Him. This is the price of truth. To believe Him in the face of all opposing views and to love Him enough to walk in His footsteps. We all want to do the miracles He did, but the greatest "work" Jesus did was to lay down His life for us. Do we love Him enough to lay down our life? Not just our mortal life, but our nature-life? Our prejudices, our opinions, our "knowledge" and experience? Our own judgment concerning ourselves? Paul said he would not judge himself. Satan is the accuser, and he accuses us to ourselves and to others. Do we listen to him or to the Word? Jesus had his ear tuned to the Father. He quoted Scripture to Satan when he accused Him. Jesus turned His Blood-bought Church over to His disciples, not because He saw them as they were but He saw them through the Faith of God.
I am going to give you (as I promised last time!) some types and shadows of men who were led by God to follow Him. In these we can see our own nature and the price we need to pay for Truth. I think Joseph is a wonderful example for us and in the next few blogs, I will endeavor to dig into his price and the Truth he found. The Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Types and Shadows
To continue the subject of purity, there are several O.T. people who were used by God to reveal the patterns of His ways. They are called "examples" by Paul to be used to instruct us in this path toward being like Jesus to manifest God as did Jesus. The Holy Spirit is given to empower us on this journey.
Genesis is called the book of "beginnings", so let us start with Adam. The difference between the Adam in the garden and the Adam denied the garden and separated from God's Presence is the reverse of what happens to us. We are separated from God and united with Him when we are born of the Spirit when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus as taking our place. The journey for Adam was downhill for a time until the birth of Seth, when men began to call on the Lord. We see him sinking in his guilt and self-condemnation for a time and then turning to teach future generations until in the seventh generation he saw Enoch walking with God. What a terrible recognition for Adam to realze he had thrown away a relationship that he could have pursued! I start with Adam, for though the study of types and shadows is usually to reveal Christ in these lives, they also are about us. We see our weakness and the hand of God leading us in these examples.
The example of Jacob is precious to us, for though a person with recognized faults, he had a hunger for God that overshadowed any faults. He was 15 years old when his greatgrandfather, Abraham, died. I can only imagine Abraham's joy in teaching the child the things God had shown him and the experiences he had learning to walk in covenant with God. Esau had no time to sit and learn from an old man. This hunger to possess the birthright revealed the widening difference between Jacob and Esau. Nothing willl set you apart from this realm like a driving hunger for God. Jacob recognized God's visitations to him in dreams and visions and allowed them to shape his life. He recognized God's hand on Joseph and though he pondered Joseph's dreams, he did not let them reveal God's purpose to him. This is to me a vital truth. Recognizing revelation in others and accepting it for yourself to see God's purpose is a victory over this adamic nature. This was Israel's problem with the prophets God sent to them. It is the problem the church faces today. The scripture says God will do nothing without first revealing it to His messengers, the prophets. We need to recognize the prophetic Voice of God in man and accept it for ourselves to guide our thinking and actions. It is vital to know the Spirit's voice to yourself, but you must also recognize it in others. Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice and another they will not follow." Why do so many follow man? They do not know the Voice of the Spirit. There are many voices being heard today but blessed are you when you recognize the Voice of the Spirit, spoken by man, and allow it to drive you closer to God. Blessed are the people whose pastor waits for the Voice of the Spirit before he speaks. We have this blessing, for I believe our pastor seeks the Lord for his voice to the people as well as asking counsel from those who also seek the Lord. "Blessed are the ears that ear...."
Genesis is called the book of "beginnings", so let us start with Adam. The difference between the Adam in the garden and the Adam denied the garden and separated from God's Presence is the reverse of what happens to us. We are separated from God and united with Him when we are born of the Spirit when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus as taking our place. The journey for Adam was downhill for a time until the birth of Seth, when men began to call on the Lord. We see him sinking in his guilt and self-condemnation for a time and then turning to teach future generations until in the seventh generation he saw Enoch walking with God. What a terrible recognition for Adam to realze he had thrown away a relationship that he could have pursued! I start with Adam, for though the study of types and shadows is usually to reveal Christ in these lives, they also are about us. We see our weakness and the hand of God leading us in these examples.
The example of Jacob is precious to us, for though a person with recognized faults, he had a hunger for God that overshadowed any faults. He was 15 years old when his greatgrandfather, Abraham, died. I can only imagine Abraham's joy in teaching the child the things God had shown him and the experiences he had learning to walk in covenant with God. Esau had no time to sit and learn from an old man. This hunger to possess the birthright revealed the widening difference between Jacob and Esau. Nothing willl set you apart from this realm like a driving hunger for God. Jacob recognized God's visitations to him in dreams and visions and allowed them to shape his life. He recognized God's hand on Joseph and though he pondered Joseph's dreams, he did not let them reveal God's purpose to him. This is to me a vital truth. Recognizing revelation in others and accepting it for yourself to see God's purpose is a victory over this adamic nature. This was Israel's problem with the prophets God sent to them. It is the problem the church faces today. The scripture says God will do nothing without first revealing it to His messengers, the prophets. We need to recognize the prophetic Voice of God in man and accept it for ourselves to guide our thinking and actions. It is vital to know the Spirit's voice to yourself, but you must also recognize it in others. Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice and another they will not follow." Why do so many follow man? They do not know the Voice of the Spirit. There are many voices being heard today but blessed are you when you recognize the Voice of the Spirit, spoken by man, and allow it to drive you closer to God. Blessed are the people whose pastor waits for the Voice of the Spirit before he speaks. We have this blessing, for I believe our pastor seeks the Lord for his voice to the people as well as asking counsel from those who also seek the Lord. "Blessed are the ears that ear...."
Friday, March 11, 2011
Pure and Holy
There is a phrase in the chorus, "Oh to be like Thee," that prays to be "pure as Thou art." Another song carries the phrase "pure and holy" to describe the Lord.
We know our Lord is pure and without sin, but God's expectation of us in covenant is to be pure as He is! Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." I John 3:3 (NASB) And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
II Corinthians 7:1 (NIV) Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
There is a difference between pure and holy. Holiness is ministered by God through our covenant response to His Word. Righteousness is accounted to us through our faith. We have to purify our selves through means offered to us by God. There are several scriptures concerning purifying. Many are in the O.T. rituals that offered purification. Water and blood were the means of this purifying. So how do we purify ourselves?
One, by faith in the finished work of Jesus. Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Two, by the water of the Word. The Word reveals our need and we are washed by the cleansing of the water of the Word as we take it into our spirit.
We overcome the desires of this Adamic nature and recognize our human heart is not a natural follower of God and not eager to respond to His Word. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. (Revelation 12:11) Two words explain those two actions: repentance and identification. We repent and put the sin found in our adamic nature under the blood of Jesus. We identify with the Word of God and the nature of Jesus and appropriate by identification. Paul did this and showed the Corinthians how to identify with His victory.
II Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
The purity we seek is a purity toward God. We focus on His Lordship over our lives and want to please Him. We turn away from the temptations our realm presents to us and refuse to dwell on them. Even when David sinned, his heart was right toward God for he turned to repentance with his whole heart. There are many times and many ways in which we may fail God, but how we turn to Him reveals the intent and focus of our heart. God knows our frame that it is but dust, but what He has provided for us is enough to overcome that dust, if we desire the Lord enough to apply it.
We know our Lord is pure and without sin, but God's expectation of us in covenant is to be pure as He is! Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." I John 3:3 (NASB) And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
II Corinthians 7:1 (NIV) Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
There is a difference between pure and holy. Holiness is ministered by God through our covenant response to His Word. Righteousness is accounted to us through our faith. We have to purify our selves through means offered to us by God. There are several scriptures concerning purifying. Many are in the O.T. rituals that offered purification. Water and blood were the means of this purifying. So how do we purify ourselves?
One, by faith in the finished work of Jesus. Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Two, by the water of the Word. The Word reveals our need and we are washed by the cleansing of the water of the Word as we take it into our spirit.
We overcome the desires of this Adamic nature and recognize our human heart is not a natural follower of God and not eager to respond to His Word. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. (Revelation 12:11) Two words explain those two actions: repentance and identification. We repent and put the sin found in our adamic nature under the blood of Jesus. We identify with the Word of God and the nature of Jesus and appropriate by identification. Paul did this and showed the Corinthians how to identify with His victory.
II Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
The purity we seek is a purity toward God. We focus on His Lordship over our lives and want to please Him. We turn away from the temptations our realm presents to us and refuse to dwell on them. Even when David sinned, his heart was right toward God for he turned to repentance with his whole heart. There are many times and many ways in which we may fail God, but how we turn to Him reveals the intent and focus of our heart. God knows our frame that it is but dust, but what He has provided for us is enough to overcome that dust, if we desire the Lord enough to apply it.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A Time of Deception
We stand at the beginning of the end. We see things happening that were prophesied by prophets of old and by our Lord as He spoke of the things to come with His disciples. All my life I have heard sermons on the end time, but seeing things happen are not as I imagined it when I heard those sermons. The sermons were, to a great measure, a description that relied on the imagination of the speaker as well as sermons they had heard. Distortion of the end time causes us to fear and also to miss what God is doing. This is why knowledge of the covenants of God are so vital to us for they keep us rooted in God and not in man's opinions.
Judgment is a part of covenant. It is what makes it a covenant and not a promise. The whole being of each covenant partner is involved. Your very being and existance depends on the covenant response. To understand that God's covenants with man are open-ended so that they are never done away with but only fulfilled to go into a greater covenant keeps us looking forward with hope. The covenant with David was an everlasting covenant, but his Descendant brought it into a deeper understanding of "everlasting" with His obedience and overcoming victory. His kingdom within you will endure and is a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Satan's scheme in this last day is to so deceive mankind that God's Word will be despised and not followed. Now more than ever we must be students of His Word and not follow the imaginations or strategies of man. The deception Jesus showed us was of the pretense of man to be what they are not. Matthew 24:23-25 (NLT) 23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.
If we are looking for miracles and signs, we could be deceived. But when we are rooted in His Word and looking to Jesus and following the guidance of the Spirit, we will not be deceived. Neither will we be fearful. Faith in His Word and trust in His Might are the steps to entering His Rest.
Judgment is a part of covenant. It is what makes it a covenant and not a promise. The whole being of each covenant partner is involved. Your very being and existance depends on the covenant response. To understand that God's covenants with man are open-ended so that they are never done away with but only fulfilled to go into a greater covenant keeps us looking forward with hope. The covenant with David was an everlasting covenant, but his Descendant brought it into a deeper understanding of "everlasting" with His obedience and overcoming victory. His kingdom within you will endure and is a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Satan's scheme in this last day is to so deceive mankind that God's Word will be despised and not followed. Now more than ever we must be students of His Word and not follow the imaginations or strategies of man. The deception Jesus showed us was of the pretense of man to be what they are not. Matthew 24:23-25 (NLT) 23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.
If we are looking for miracles and signs, we could be deceived. But when we are rooted in His Word and looking to Jesus and following the guidance of the Spirit, we will not be deceived. Neither will we be fearful. Faith in His Word and trust in His Might are the steps to entering His Rest.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Why Judgment?
You hear many opinions about God. Why does God allow such terrible things to happen? A loving God would not send people to hell. If God is love, then why does He punish people. The list of opinions goes on and on. God's Word is not the answer to opinions. The action of God does not regard man's opinion. When God speaks of His judgment, He speaks of that which will come. Fortunately for our eternal well being, judgment is something with which the Christian becomes acquainted. He does not allow us to continue on a wrong path but judges our deception so we can walk in Truth.
We will continue to justify our Adamic nature until God exposes it. This is not because He is angry with us but because He loves us and wants to share the rest of eternity with us. Sin cannot exist in His Holy Presence so sin must be dealt with in our nature. The ninth chapter of Hebrews explains the fulfillment of the Law concerning the covenant of blood and the ministry of the High Priest. The following verses highlight this subject of judgment.
Hebrews 9:24-28 24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. 27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
God manifested what the creation of man in God's image is to be by giving us Jesus. God infused Himself into us by giving us the Blood of Jesus. Jesus returned to His realm as the manifested Son of God and our High Priest. Only the Spirit can give us a revelation of the Holiness of God. All the creatures of heaven sing praise to His holiness. We will understand the blessing of covenant when we truly understand how holy is God. What God judges in us is that sinful nature that excuses, justifies and accepts deception to cover up this nature. Only God can reveal this to us and only His Blood can remove it. But, in covenant, we are responsible for releasing it to His judgment by accepting His provision to rid us of this nature. None of us can live a day without needing this cleansing. But John described the precious gift we have been given as an ongoing, continuous work of the Blood cleansing us. The Holy Spirit is at work in us to keep us aware of our need to remain in connection. We are held in the Father's hand but we need to be aware of that privilege. Praise and worship keep that connection alive to us.
Peter speaks of the judgment that must begin with the family of God. We must be prepared for the day of the shaking by allowing God to cleanse us of "the filthiness of the flesh". We are to be the witnesses of His Resurrected Life in this time of great darkness. The Light is to shine, brighter and brighter, to the Day of His coming. Our light of witness is to be brighter and greater than even the witness of the early apostles. As we radiate this Light, the judgment will be manifest in those who hate the Light. Jesus is returning for a church without spot or wrinkle, prepared as a Bride for her Bridegroom. It is time to embrace God's judgment rather than resist it. Embrace His provision to put to death those things that still resist God.
We will continue to justify our Adamic nature until God exposes it. This is not because He is angry with us but because He loves us and wants to share the rest of eternity with us. Sin cannot exist in His Holy Presence so sin must be dealt with in our nature. The ninth chapter of Hebrews explains the fulfillment of the Law concerning the covenant of blood and the ministry of the High Priest. The following verses highlight this subject of judgment.
Hebrews 9:24-28 24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. 27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
God manifested what the creation of man in God's image is to be by giving us Jesus. God infused Himself into us by giving us the Blood of Jesus. Jesus returned to His realm as the manifested Son of God and our High Priest. Only the Spirit can give us a revelation of the Holiness of God. All the creatures of heaven sing praise to His holiness. We will understand the blessing of covenant when we truly understand how holy is God. What God judges in us is that sinful nature that excuses, justifies and accepts deception to cover up this nature. Only God can reveal this to us and only His Blood can remove it. But, in covenant, we are responsible for releasing it to His judgment by accepting His provision to rid us of this nature. None of us can live a day without needing this cleansing. But John described the precious gift we have been given as an ongoing, continuous work of the Blood cleansing us. The Holy Spirit is at work in us to keep us aware of our need to remain in connection. We are held in the Father's hand but we need to be aware of that privilege. Praise and worship keep that connection alive to us.
Peter speaks of the judgment that must begin with the family of God. We must be prepared for the day of the shaking by allowing God to cleanse us of "the filthiness of the flesh". We are to be the witnesses of His Resurrected Life in this time of great darkness. The Light is to shine, brighter and brighter, to the Day of His coming. Our light of witness is to be brighter and greater than even the witness of the early apostles. As we radiate this Light, the judgment will be manifest in those who hate the Light. Jesus is returning for a church without spot or wrinkle, prepared as a Bride for her Bridegroom. It is time to embrace God's judgment rather than resist it. Embrace His provision to put to death those things that still resist God.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Where Do We Stand?
I remember a sermon my husband preached on "Praising God on the Right Side of the Red Sea!" He said the panic of fear in the people caused them to rail on Moses. But Moses told them, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptian you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:13) The Israelites had a wonderful time of rejoicing and praise on the other side but how much better if they had rejoiced by faith before they crossed over.
God has deliverance for His people and has made provision to take care of you. Your covenant response is to trust, believe His Word and stand firm. God has provided you with armor for the battle. Ephesians 6:13 (NASB)Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
This day that is upon us will try us in every way. The human nature that has been the enemy in our "civil war", will be overcome until the "enemy you see today, you will never see again." This will be a time of judgment as everything is shaken. We will come out of this time rooted in Him with every response that has bothered us stilled in the victory of His deliverance. Yes, we will praise and rejoice then, but let us stand firm now and praise in faith.
My prayer for all of us is that we enter His Rest. Know Who your Victory is and embrace your victory. We cannot enter His rest if we are still coming up with the answers. Just trust!
God has deliverance for His people and has made provision to take care of you. Your covenant response is to trust, believe His Word and stand firm. God has provided you with armor for the battle. Ephesians 6:13 (NASB)Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
This day that is upon us will try us in every way. The human nature that has been the enemy in our "civil war", will be overcome until the "enemy you see today, you will never see again." This will be a time of judgment as everything is shaken. We will come out of this time rooted in Him with every response that has bothered us stilled in the victory of His deliverance. Yes, we will praise and rejoice then, but let us stand firm now and praise in faith.
My prayer for all of us is that we enter His Rest. Know Who your Victory is and embrace your victory. We cannot enter His rest if we are still coming up with the answers. Just trust!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Stand Firm
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NTL) A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
I want to point out two of the things we need to take note of in these verses. First, this pertains to you and to your response. The armor is for your sake to aid you in overcoming the scheme or (as this translation puts it!) strategy of the devil. You are not fighting the devil but his strategy. The devil is limited in his use of the usurped authority he still is able to use to attack the purpose of God to make man in His image. He must stop your faith before it is turned loose. He must stop your relationship with God so you lose your way in resisting him. The issue here is your protecting yourself and your being effective in your resisting his strategy. What happens if you are not protected personally? You lose sight of who the enemy is. You become resentful of people or, worse, vengeful in your thoughts and comments which spreads to those around you. You become critical and blame people who are visible and therefore the instigators of the problem rather than seeing them as pawns used by the devil.
You also lose your ability to stand. Things are going to get much worse as far as persecution of Christians is concerned. Will you be able to make the hard choices to remain faithful when your security, your home, your children and your life is in danger? The Scripture calls it "the evil day", but that day is upon us. Are you protected?
What about the darts that attack your mind? Do the thoughts of discouragement, doubt of His love and/or willingness to hear and answer your prayer, and concern if you are in the right place or if you have enough "stuff" for a future need shake your peace and trust? These darts aimed at your mind will find a destructive course through your emotions into your spirit if they are not extinguished with your shield of faith. The helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit work together to protect your mind. Don't forget you are limited, so don't think you are standing if you are not prepared to do so. God has provided this armor to protect you. It is His covenant provision, you have to put it on. The things that are part of the devil's strategy will discourage, defeat and rob you of what you now have. There is no joy in losing this battle. If you lose the kingdom that cannot be shaken, there is nothing in this shakeable world that can replace it.
Second, you were chosen to live in this time. Your putting on the armor is important for this day. God trusts you to witness of His Life by revealing to the world a soul at peace in Him, prepared to speak His word, victor over those strategies that have come against you and standing in His victory over this world. This generation of mankind will be the generation that ushers in the King to set up His kingdom over all the earth. Begin now to prepare yourself for this final battle over the evil that would seek to prevent the will of God.
I want to point out two of the things we need to take note of in these verses. First, this pertains to you and to your response. The armor is for your sake to aid you in overcoming the scheme or (as this translation puts it!) strategy of the devil. You are not fighting the devil but his strategy. The devil is limited in his use of the usurped authority he still is able to use to attack the purpose of God to make man in His image. He must stop your faith before it is turned loose. He must stop your relationship with God so you lose your way in resisting him. The issue here is your protecting yourself and your being effective in your resisting his strategy. What happens if you are not protected personally? You lose sight of who the enemy is. You become resentful of people or, worse, vengeful in your thoughts and comments which spreads to those around you. You become critical and blame people who are visible and therefore the instigators of the problem rather than seeing them as pawns used by the devil.
You also lose your ability to stand. Things are going to get much worse as far as persecution of Christians is concerned. Will you be able to make the hard choices to remain faithful when your security, your home, your children and your life is in danger? The Scripture calls it "the evil day", but that day is upon us. Are you protected?
What about the darts that attack your mind? Do the thoughts of discouragement, doubt of His love and/or willingness to hear and answer your prayer, and concern if you are in the right place or if you have enough "stuff" for a future need shake your peace and trust? These darts aimed at your mind will find a destructive course through your emotions into your spirit if they are not extinguished with your shield of faith. The helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit work together to protect your mind. Don't forget you are limited, so don't think you are standing if you are not prepared to do so. God has provided this armor to protect you. It is His covenant provision, you have to put it on. The things that are part of the devil's strategy will discourage, defeat and rob you of what you now have. There is no joy in losing this battle. If you lose the kingdom that cannot be shaken, there is nothing in this shakeable world that can replace it.
Second, you were chosen to live in this time. Your putting on the armor is important for this day. God trusts you to witness of His Life by revealing to the world a soul at peace in Him, prepared to speak His word, victor over those strategies that have come against you and standing in His victory over this world. This generation of mankind will be the generation that ushers in the King to set up His kingdom over all the earth. Begin now to prepare yourself for this final battle over the evil that would seek to prevent the will of God.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
God's Workmanship
I think my favorite verse in the Bible is Ephesians 2:10. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." In my last blog I was speaking of the limitation that is placed on creation. If we realize the real big bang was the declaration of God, "Let us make man in our image", which started all the creation process, we have to realize that the works were also declared before creation began. We were also there in God's presence for the sons of God sang at creation's dawn! God does not have process for if He has a thought, it is completed. Process is a tool in God's hand as He works in us! "For it is God Who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."(Philippians 2:13)
Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." He knew the schemes of Satan to discourage you, isolate you from feeling a part of His Body, and to tempt you to let go and slide back into the mire of this realm. He knew also the need for you to make a covenant response to activate your awareness to His Presence. His Presence is always there, but for you to be aware of His Presence is your victory.
I am going to list some of the things I do when I go through a "cloud" experience that hides the Son. Pray for someone else you know needs awareness of the Lord's Presence. Begin to praise God for His love in sending Jesus to take our punishment and lead us out of this muck. I meditate on Who God is--His majesty, love, honor, holiness, glory and mercy. I thank Him that He has chosen me, forgiven and brought me into His family and presence. By then, I am standing in His Presence and the awareness of our relationship is back in place. The important thing is that you do not willingly stay in a place where you are not aware of His Presence. Remember, ask, seek and knock. You can be abiding in Him and not be aware of it and then the pressures of this realm rob you of your victory over them in Christ Jesus. It is vital that you are aware of His Presence so that all you do is an expression of His life in you. You are His workmanship, so cast your cares on Him, and enjoy the ride!
Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." He knew the schemes of Satan to discourage you, isolate you from feeling a part of His Body, and to tempt you to let go and slide back into the mire of this realm. He knew also the need for you to make a covenant response to activate your awareness to His Presence. His Presence is always there, but for you to be aware of His Presence is your victory.
I am going to list some of the things I do when I go through a "cloud" experience that hides the Son. Pray for someone else you know needs awareness of the Lord's Presence. Begin to praise God for His love in sending Jesus to take our punishment and lead us out of this muck. I meditate on Who God is--His majesty, love, honor, holiness, glory and mercy. I thank Him that He has chosen me, forgiven and brought me into His family and presence. By then, I am standing in His Presence and the awareness of our relationship is back in place. The important thing is that you do not willingly stay in a place where you are not aware of His Presence. Remember, ask, seek and knock. You can be abiding in Him and not be aware of it and then the pressures of this realm rob you of your victory over them in Christ Jesus. It is vital that you are aware of His Presence so that all you do is an expression of His life in you. You are His workmanship, so cast your cares on Him, and enjoy the ride!
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